MONDAY, FEB. 28, 2011

FISHING -- Two hours per fish? If you don't believe me, here's the report just filed by Idaho Fish and Game for steelheading success. Anglers are investing an average of 9-24 hours per fish on portions of the Clearwater. But the Salmon River fishing is...

FISHING -- Here’s the February steelhead fishing recap for the Hanford Reach of the Columbia just filed by Paul Hoffarth, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife fisheries biologist in the Tri-Cities: Lower Reach (Hwy 395 to old Hanford town site): An estimated 174 steelhead were...

NATURE/TRAVEL -- Wildlife photographer and Public TV “Travels to the Edge” host Art Wolfe will give a lecture and slide show Tuesday, 7 p.m., at Whitworth University’s Weyerhaeuser Hall Robinson Teaching Theatre. Wolfe, 59, is one of the best globetrotting nature imagers in the world....

HUNTING -- Out-of-staters will pay more for Montana big-game combination licenses in 2011. State voters approved a November initiative that moved 7,800 outfitter-sponsored big-game and deer combination licenses to the general nonresident license category, they also increased the associated license fees. The fee increases include:...

FISHING -- The forecast is bright for the "upriver bright" fall chinook salmon headed primarily to the Hanford Reach of the Columbia this summer and fall. This year's run of fall chinook salmon to the Columbia River basin is expected to be the fifth largest...

FISHERIES -- Good news for the progress of restoring native Snake River salmon runs: Forecasts completed last week predict 17,500 Snake River “wild” fall chinook salmon will return to the mouth of the Columbia. This is a stock protected under the Endangered Species Act. A...

FLY FISHING – The Spokane Fly Fishers annual fly pattern raffle to support fisheries conservation projects is March 9, 6:30 p.m., at St. Francis School Auditorium, 1104 W. Heroy. Members and public alike can by chances on locally tested and tied patterns as well as...

SUNDAY, FEB. 27, 2011

PUBLIC LANDS -- The U.S. Bureau of Land Management plans to scale back costly roundups of wild horses. In a news release issued Thursday, BLM officials said they will reduce the number of wild horses removed from the range by about one-quarter — to 7,600...

PUBLIC LANDS -- The Colville National Forest has named a new district ranger for the Republic District. Tom Whitford, 20 years with the agency, will take over on March 14. He will replace Steve Rawlings, the forest’s fire management officer, who has served as acting...

SKIING -- If the bitter cold is turning you off to hitting the slopes in the Inland Northwest this week, maybe you should consider the possibilities of skiing Hawaii -- in the surf! Check out big-time freeskier Chuck Patterson's switch from the steep and deep...

SATURDAY, FEB. 26, 2011

BACKPACKING -- Reservations for overnight permits to camp in the Enchantment Lakes Basin will be available only online beginning this year, starting Monday. A popular destination in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, camping in the Enchantments from June 15-Oct. 15 is limited, and permits are picked...

WILDLIFE WATCHING -- The winter ice cap was almost gone from Sprague Lake a few days ago, but this week's cold snap has reversed the trend -- and that's bad news for the coots that had taken up residence in the open waters. Here's the...

WILDLIFE -- Mike Gibeau, an internationally recognized grizzly bear specialist who spent more than three decades with Parks Canada, is retiring June 3 and the federal agency has no plans to replace him, just as the agency did not replace science manager Cliff White when...

FRIDAY, FEB. 25, 2011

ENDANGERED SPECIES -- Washington Fish and Wildlife Department officials this week confirmed the killing of an adult male gray wolf, shot in Eastern Washington more than a year ago and dumped in eastern Skagit County. Investigators believe the wolf was shot somewhere east of Rainy...

FISHING -- Big is still the operative term for the spring chinook salmon fishery nosing into the Columbia River. Last year it was a big run. This year the emphasis is on the proportion of fish in the run that are big. The forecast is...

RIVERS -- Speaking to the Pasco-Kennewick Rotary Club on Wednesday, Congressman Doc Hastings, R-WA, said he’ll use his position as chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee to block any bills related to breaching lower Snake River dams. Hastings said salmon runs are recovering under...

BICYCLING -- REI is recalling about 160 bicycles because of a potential fall hazard. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says the alloy steerer tube on certain Nova Fusion bicycles could separate from the fork, causing the rider to lose control, posing a fall hazard...

PUBLIC LANDS -- The National Park Service may require the removal of 25 private cabins that have been built and upgraded over many years within the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area northwest of Spokane. That’s one of three options in an environmental assessment released Thursday...

BICYCLING -- Western Washington's annual "Chilly Hilly" bicycle tour should live up to its name this weekend. Thousands of bicyclists are expected to take part Sunday in the 33-mile bike trek around Bainbridge Island. The National Weather Service says rain is in the forecast, with...

WILDLIFE WATCHING -- Bird feeders are especially alive with activity in this cold weather as birds -- and other wildlife -- look for easy calories. To get a cross section of species, you need seed feeders filled separatel with black sunflower seeds and others with...

WINTER SPORTS -- The Inland Northwest avalanche advisory issued this morning notes that snow that accumulated in the cold temperatures of recent storm is light enough to warrant only "considerable" avalanche danger in many (not all) areas. But a change is expected around Sunday. The...

FISHING -- The arctic weather chilling the Inland Northwest is firming the surface at some lakes and pushing the reset button for ice anglers. If you're looking for a wall-hanger fish to brag about this weekend, try to guess where the angler in this video...

SKIING -- Fireworks will pierce the cold mountain air tonight and Saturday around a stunning display of aerial skiing stunts during the Yoke's Outrageous Air Show at Schweitzer Mountain Resort. S-R skiing columnist Bill Jennings has the down to earth story on the Olympian who...

FISHING -- The weather isn't necessarily cooperating, but Al Liere is on the ball with a preview of the region's lakes that are opening for fishing on March 1. Check it out in his weekly Hunting & Fishing Report.